Certifications and Education

For over 50 years, the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AH&LEI) has been the source for providing industry-tested, research-driven hospitality training resources. AH&LEI continues to meet and exceed its education and training mission by using the Internet, videos, DVD’s, textbooks, study guides, seminars, and professional certification to train all levels of personnel.

Lodging Professional Certification Program

Through the California Hotel & Lodging Association’s national affiliate, all CH&LA members have the ability to achieve the world's highest recognition for hospitality excellence through professional certification from the AH&LA Educational Institute, the premier educational resource of the lodging industry.

AH&LA’s Educational Institute certifies the best and brightest in the industry, recognizing both operational and managerial expertise, from line-level, department level to the top executive level with 40 designations in all. Promote certification throughout your organization at all levels and know with confidence that they possess the skills required to be tops in the hospitality industry.

CH&LA would like to congratulate and welcome professionals in California who passed their certification exams!

Click here for more information on the various certifications available from the AH&LA Educational Institute.

Lodging Properties

You can take advantage of the AH&LA Educational Institute products and services:

CH&LA members can purchase Educational Institute products, services, certifications, and seminar materials online for over 800 products by clicking on any of the categories listed below.

While most training videos/programs can be used as stand-alone training items, some require special participant manuals and/or exam packets when using them as a certification course or if you want to test your employees.

High Schools / Other Educational Institutions

The Hospitality and Tourism Management Program (HTMP) is the official industry recognized curriculum to prepare students for roles in the hospitality industry and beyond.

In addition to the HTMP program, AH&LEI offers the Skills, Tasks and Results Training (START) program, perfect as the introductory class for hotel operations. The START program is offered in over 400 high schools and community colleges.

Also recommended as a basic course in excellent customer service, and easily integrated into any existing curriculum is Guest Service Gold. The program is designed to accomplish the goal of creating guest service-oriented line level employees who know how to engage with their guests to provide memorable guest service.